Author's Notes: I just wanted to thank you everyone for your wonderful reviews. It feels great to have your work read and liked. I'm sorry about not updating sooner, but school and what not can really put a damper on your time. (BLAME IT ON THE PROFS). Anyways, I hoped you all liked the first part of the series. I already have part II written so I will post it up in a few days.

Once again, thank you for the great reviews!!!

May the Force Be With You.

(Counting down not so patiently until AOTC comes out!!!)

******

Chapter 13: Epilogue

A single candle lit the small dark room. There was a bed in the center of the room and a desk against the opened window. A small breeze blew through the window, making the candle flicker in response. Next to the bed in a crumbled heap on the floor sat a man, clutching a small silver cylindrical object closed to his chest.

The man sat there unmoving to an observer's eyes, but if anyone else was in that room, he'd see watery stains still present on the man's face. The man stared out blankly at the dimly lit walls of the room as though there was something of importance there.

He sat there for hours, still motionless, saved for his eyes blinking merely out of reflex. A cloud of pain and sadness seemed to enveloped the man and the small room, threatening to smother him, but he still sat there looking blankly at the wall or perhaps into some far off distance...or a memory.

Perhaps a happy memory came across his mind for a small smile began to break on his solemn face. His deep blue eyes showed a slight twinkle of life for a brief moment then returned to its glazed stare.

"Obi-Wan" he whispered softly, breaking the deadly silence that hung the room like an endless fog.

He knew that there would be no response and his heart bled slowly as it had done for the last seven days…

************

Obi-Wan had died seven days ago and since that day, Qui-Gon had locked himself up in a world of his own, shielding everyone out, especially the Soul Healers who were assigned to help him. He didn't need help. He needed Obi-Wan, but that was an impossible wish now.

He could remember many Jedi asking him what had happened, but he couldn't even bring himself to say that he saw and felt Obi-Wan's death. It was too painful for him and he just wanted to repress or cut off everything that he had seen and heard inside the maintenance building. But once again, it was a wishful hope for the more he wanted to forget, the more it lingered on his mind incessantly.

His friends and practically every Jedi consoled him, telling him that what he saw could have been fabricated by Antes. Qui-Gon really wanted to believe that with all of his heart, but deep down he knew that the pain he felt at the severance of the Master/Padawan bond could never be fabricated. Yet, he was hopeful…until three days ago when he received a hologram from Antes, gloating at his success.

Still, Qui-Gon had felt that there perhaps was still a glimmer of hope left amongst all things. He waited for news of the search parties. He refused to give up, staying up without sleep for days wandering the streets of Coruscant, trying to find Obi-Wan.

Days passed and with no encouraging news, the Jedi Council regretfully acknowledged Obi-Wan's death and arranged for a formal funeral at the Tower of Souls. It was set for the seventh night since Mace Windu and An-Paj found Qui-Gon slumped to the ground in shock inside the maintenance building.

**********

It was now only a few minutes before Obi-Wan's funeral would begin, but Qui- Gon showed no signs of wanting to attend. He still sat there on the floor inside Obi-Wan's room, clutching his Padawan's lightsaber tightly to his heart.

For the past few hours, many Jedi had came to see him including Mace Windu, Yoda, An-Paj, and Tahl, but he didn't notice them, still continuing to drown in his own misery and pain. Never once did he ever imagine that he'd lose Obi-Wan, but now it wasn't a thought anymore but a painful truth.

Looking outside window, Qui-Gon could see the funeral pyre begin to billow out smoke across the night sky. The Tower of Souls shone brightly like a beacon in the night, too symbolically close for Qui-Gon's sake since he always saw Obi-Wan as a beacon of light to his troubled soul since Xanatos' betrayal.

"Do you know just how much you mean to me?" Qui-Gon asked tearfully to no one in particular.

Silence…as is expected.

"I miss you Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon choked with tears. "How dare you leave this bitter old man…"

"Forgive me Master" Obi-Wan's last cry still haunted Qui-Gon.

"No, I won't forgive you Obi-Wan…not until you come back to me"

Silence.

There were no sounds except for the small sobs that seemed to resonate inside the small room.

Time passed by slowly.

//It probably had already started// Qui-Gon thought sadly to himself as he stole a glance out the window. Perhaps he was still in denial, but Qui-Gon knew that he couldn't face Obi-Wan's funeral, even if the funeral was for symbolic reason since no body had been found.

Staring now not at the walls but at the Tower of Souls burning brightly into the dark night, Qui-Gon let his tears fall down unheeded. A few moments passed, then Qui-Gon saw the light inside the Tower of Souls flickered out…at the same time, the single candle that lit the room also gave out, leaving Qui-Gon again alone in the dark…

*Watching the candle flicker out

When the evening glows

I can't let go

When will the night be over…

The End.--Sequel coming : "Tabula Rasa"

**NOTE: The last four lines are from a BBMak's song. I just thought it was an appropriate ending.